The Federal Government has affirmed its commitment to penalize employers who enforce inappropriate working conditions, violating local, and international labor regulations.
Mr. Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, made this declaration during the inauguration of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III (2023-2027) held in Abuja on Friday.
The DWCP’s objective is to foster employment opportunities, ensure labor rights, extend social protection, and facilitate social dialogue within the workforce.
Collaboratively organized by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the program aims to address persistent deficits in decent work within the economy. Lalong emphasized the prevalence of informal employment and the scarcity of well-paying jobs with adequate social protection.
He highlighted that workers engaged in the informal economy often face unfavorable working conditions, meager wages, extended work hours, limited union representation, and unsafe work environments.
“As well as the absence of efficient employment and job creation opportunities and conditions of underemployment, among others.
“Government is aware of some of these employers’ activities, who disregard the extant labour laws due to the pursuit of profit.
“This creates work environments that frustrate the attainment of decent work for employers or employees because of the quest for profit.
“Many workers are exploited and make the work in very indecent and intolerable conditions, which negate all local and international labour laws.
“Hence, we shall not fail to sanction such organizations and ensure that the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers are protected,” he said.
